Plasma noradrenaline correlates to sympathetic muscle nerve activity in normotensive man

Recordings of multiunit sympathetic activity were made in muscle branches of the peroneal nerve in 22 healthy subjects at rest in recumbent position. Nerve activity was quantitated in terms of burst incidence (number of pulse synchronous sympathetic bursts per 100 heart beats or per min). In a separate session, 4-45 months later, blood was drawn from an antecubital vein for noradrenaline analysis. Both sympathetic activity and plasma concentrations of noradrenaline varied widely between subjects and both parameters increased with age. There was a significant positive correlation between a subject's level of sympathetic activity and his plasma concentration of noradrenaline. It is suggested that overflow of transmitter from sympathetic terminals in muscles contributes significantly to plasma levels of noradrenaline at rest.     

Layered double hydroxide platelets exfoliation into a water‐based polyester

Nitrate layered double hydroxide (LDH) phase Zn₂Al(OH)₆(NO₃)·2H₂O is successfully exfoliated in the presence of polyester under mild conditions using water as essential solvent and at room temperature under air. From small angle X‐ray scattering spectroscopy a total exfoliation is found to be achieved using up to 10 wt % LDH, while intercalated polymer nanocomposite structures largely extended up to 14 nm are observed for loading ranging from 10 to 20 wt %. The process is found to be explained by the diffusion of the polymer chain into the interlayer host structure. Starting from an initial value of 0.89 nm, ≈3, 7, 10, 14, and 20 nm transient interleaved nanostructures are formed without any carbonate uptake. The collective gap distance is certainly due to a defined number of polymer chains diffusing into the LDH interstices. Similarly, starting from an aqueous polyester solution highly concentrated in LDH nitrate phase up to 50% w.w, successive dilutions yield platelet exfoliation, thus rendering a smooth chemistry process attractive for potential applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Relationship between plasma phospholipid transfer protein activity and HDL subclasses among patients with low HDL and cardiovascular disease

NK lysin is a 9-kDa polypeptide that was originally isolated from porcine intestinal tissue based on its antibacterial activity. It is produced by cytolytic lymphocytes and is cytolytic against a number of different types of tumor cells. Here we report the binding of NK lysin to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and its anti-LPS activity. NK lysin binds to matrix-coated LPS from Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and different strains of Salmonella enterica. Lipid A and polymyxin B inhibited the binding, demonstrating a preferential interaction of NK lysin with the lipid part of LPS. Chromium-labeled lymphoma cells were lysed by NK lysin, and LPS dose-dependently inhibited the cytolysis at equimolar amounts. In the same manner, NK lysin inhibited certain LPS-stimulated effects on mouse bone marrow cells as well as LPS binding to mouse granulocytes. These results suggest that NK lysin may be a another natural LPS-binding protein from lymphocytes that may participate in the endogenous defense response associated with elevated concentrations of LPS.     

Authoritative parenting and college students' academic adjustment and success.

This study examined connections between college students' adjustment and success and characteristics of their relationships with their parents. A sample of 236 students completed the Student Attitudes and Perceptions Survey, a 135-item anonymous self-report instrument. Students' grades, confidence level, persistence, task involvement, and rapport with their teachers were generally predicted by both current and childhood levels of parental autonomy granting, demandingness, and supportiveness. Ratings of parenting characteristics were equally predictive of adjustment and success among students living with their parents and those living on their own. They were somewhat less predictive of seniors' adjustment and success than they were for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. These findings suggest that parenting style continues to play an important role in the academic lives of college students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Heterodyne Spatial Tracking System for Optical Space Communication

Design considerations for an optical spatial tracking system for both coherent and noncoherent heterodyne detection are addressed. Heterodyne detection systems are much less susceptible to background radiation and device noise than conventional direct detection systems. In addition, the angle discriminator profile in a heterodyne detection system can be tailored via the local oscillator spatial distribution. An optimal LO distribution is described and its performance is compared to some Suboptimal distributions. It is shown that an ideal quadrant detector can achieve near optimal performance, since the LO effectively acts like a continuum of detectors. Cramer-Rao tracking bounds and other performance criteria are given under the conservative assumption that the angular process to be tracked is a single-pole process. The method used is directly applicable to other types of angular processes. Experimental verification of some of the basic concepts is presented.